Album: Trio Dolce Vita, Amarcord (Jazzwerkstatt)

The woody – even Acker Bilk-ish – sound of a clarinet tootling Nino Rota's title-theme from Fellini's Amarcord against the clip-clop rhythm of double bass and plucked cello must be one of the most nostalgic musical experiences imaginable.

This previously unknown (to me) German/Italian trio do everything right: perfectly chosen Rota repertoire mixing canonical classics with lesser known material, all played with a cool, avant-garde drollery that puts you in mind of Jimmy Giuffre and Jim Hall as well the similar Clusone Trio.